Cristiano Ronaldo secured the “Ballon d’Or of All Time” (BOAT) award following a public internet vote organized by France Football and UEFA, subsequently sharing a social media post that emphasized the role of supporters while fueling debate over the contest’s unique mechanics. The Portuguese forward’s 2008 campaign with Manchester United claimed the top spot in the virtual poll, edging out Lionel Messi’s 2012 season with Barcelona.

The digital ballot invited fans to compare legendary individual seasons. Participants paid one euro per vote with no limits on frequency, a setup that later drew sharp scrutiny. Official platform data confirmed that thousands of users cast multiple ballots, with 5,009 individuals voting more than once. Amid questions surrounding the hybrid format—which also entered voters into a drawing for two tickets to the 2027 Ballon d’Or gala—Ronaldo published a statement on his official channels. “Football belongs to the fans! Thanks to all the fans around the world, the Ballon d’Or of All Time is yours too,” the Al Nassr forward wrote, playing for the Saudi Arabian team since 2023. The post can be understood as a clear hint toward Messi by mentioning that “football belongs to the fans,” since the winner of this prize was chosen via an internet vote.

Manchester United 2008 Outpaces Barcelona 2012 in Final Standings

The final tally placed Ronaldo’s 2008 triumph at the summit with 446 points, powered by a year in which he netted 31 Premier League goals, captured the UEFA Champions League title, and later claimed the FIFA Club World Cup. Lionel Messi’s 2012 campaign—highlighted by 91 goals in a single calendar year—finished in second place with 281 points. Fernando Torres placed third with 179 points.

Because the competition restricted nominees to European nationals or players born in Europe who had won multiple conventional Ballon d’Or trophies, players like Pelé or Diego Maradona did not form part of the original cut. The voting pool featured candidates such as Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini, Marco van Basten, and Alfredo Di Stéfano. The Portuguese and the Argentine occupy the twelve first positions of the list, with Ronaldo Nazario appearing only at number 13 for his 2012 Ballon d’Or. Ronaldo would win the traditional award four more times wearing the Real Madrid shirt: in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. In the BOAT voting, his 2017 season took third place, followed by Lionel Messi 2023 and Cristiano Ronaldo 2016.

Financial Mechanics and Platform Scrutiny Surrounding the BOAT Award

The structure of the poll generated discussion. By charging one euro per vote and permitting unlimited entries, the platform created a model combining public opinion polling with paid promotional incentives. Reports indicated that 44 users cast between 10 and 26 votes, while 300 users submitted between five and nine ballots, alongside 4,665 users voting between two and four times. Organizers at France Football clarified that the BOAT is a public vote designed to celebrate fans and is not a physical trophy or an official award presented at their ceremony.

Ronaldo’s public acknowledgement of his supporters arrived against a backdrop of his past skepticism toward official award ceremonies. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner had previously described an award as “fictional” in 2025. He attended the Ballon d’Or ceremony for the last time when he received the fifth trophy of his career in Paris. Following the 2024 gala, when Rodri obtained the award ahead of Vinícius Júnior, Ronaldo stated: No hay credibilidad, Vinícius tendría que ser el Balón de Oro.

Future Recognition and the Status of the Super Ballon d’Or

With the digital fan vote concluded, attention in Paris has turned toward the potential revival of football’s most exclusive historical honor: the Super Ballon d’Or. Awarded only once in history on December 24, 1989, to Alfredo Di Stéfano to recognize the best player of the preceding three decades, industry observers report that the mention is destined for Lionel Messi. However, there is no rush to set a date because it is not clear if it will be before or after his retirement.